Tommy Wright: I think IFA will do everything they can to keep Michael O’Neill

Tommy Wright says Michael O’Neill never mentioned the Scotland job when the pair spoke on Wednesday but feels the Northern Ireland manager has earned the right to consider his future.

The Scottish Football Association made an official approach to its counterparts in Belfast on Wednesday for permission to speak to O’Neill, who has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Gordon Strachan as Scotland manager.

Tommy Wright during his time as NI goalkeeping coach, pictured with Roy Carroll

Wright worked in O’Neill’s coaching team before focusing on his role as St Johnstone manager and is surprised his former Newcastle and Northern Ireland team-mate has not been poached by a major club after guiding his country to the last 16 of last summer’s European Championship.

O’Neill has also been linked with vacant posts at Sunderland, Rangers and the United States after taking Northern Ireland to the World Cup play-offs, but Wright believes the Irish Football Association will fight hard to keep its manager.

Wright said on Thursday: “I spoke to Michael at length (on Wednesday) and the Scotland job never came up in conversation but it is well documented that Scotland feel that he is their preferred choice and have made contact with the IFA I believe.

“If that’s true I don’t think the IFA will give up lightly, I think they will do everything in their powers to keep Michael because the job he has done with Northern Ireland is incredible. And if you look at the job he has done I find it baffling that he hasn’t had a club move out of that before now.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill

“But it is evident with what he has done with Northern Ireland, he would be able to bring that to the table with Scotland.”

Wright is unsure what O’Neill would do if offered the Scotland job.

“I genuinely don’t know what he would do,” he said. “He has to sit and look at what challenge he wants next, whether it is the challenge to get Northern Ireland into another Euros or a challenge to have a fresh start at club level or international level - that will be his decision.

“But what he has done for Northern Ireland, he deserves the right to make that decision.”

Another former member of O’Neill’s backroom team, Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson, also feels the Northern Ireland boss would have a major impact with Scotland but has no idea whether he would accept the challenge.

Robinson, who stepped down as Northern Ireland assistant after Euro 2016, said: “He has about 35/36 players to choose from, four or five from the Premier League and the rest made up from League Two and our leagues - what he’s done with that amount of players and achieved has been incredible. If you’re sitting on an international board, he’d be at the forefront of your mind most definitely.

“What Scotland have is a bigger pool of players and a professional league in the country, a massive support and massive media attention, whereas Northern Ireland is a part-time league and we don’t have the pool of players. Scotland have improved in the last few months. I cant speak for Michael, but there’s obviously a lot of potential.”

Robinson has not spoken to his former colleague about Scotland’s interest.

“I know there are club jobs apparently interested as well and they are two completely different jobs,” he added.

“International football is six or seven games a year, you have a life outside of it, more down time and more thinking time whereas a club job is more full-on and takes over your life. That’s a decision he has to make, and he’s earned the right and he’s entitled to do that.

“He’s a shrewd cookie, Michael, so I know whatever he does will be the right decision.”